When you own a small business and you’re thinking about creating an in-house delivery service, is it a good idea?
It depends on the type of goods that you’ll be transporting if they’re perishable or likely to get cold (food or beverage items, especially), and their size, whether a 125cc scooter or a van will be required.
For this article, we look at 4 things to know about hiring delivery drivers before you decide if it’s a good idea or whether you should outsource delivery to a dedicated firm.
1. Driving License Requirements
In the UK, if you have a full car licence, then oddly, you’re allowed to ride up to a 125cc scooter or motorbike. This is according to the UK government’s page that confirms the specifics.
It is a requirement to follow through by taking and getting a passing grade on the motorbike compulsory basic training (abbreviated to CBT) to ride on public roads.
The CBT gets you on a two-wheeled bike, which for some riders, may be a first-time experience for them. You’d be surprised how many riders with a newly minted CBT apply for a delivery driver job.
2. The Culture is Different with Delivery Drivers
Whether the driver is on a small 125cc scooter or driving a small delivery van, there’s more of a working-class feel to this world. It’s completely different from a formal office environment and may not gel well with companies that expect drivers or riders to “fit in” with their office culture.
Most people who work as delivery drivers love it and don’t wish to work in an office. They enjoy the freedom and spending time on the open road. Some may also enjoy the contact with people from different walks of life when delivering their packages too.
If you require that they behave in a certain manner, training will need to be provided to ensure that. Otherwise, it can be a bit of a rougher environment without so many of the niceties we come to expect in the UK.
3. Managing Schedules & Drivers are Genuinely Hard
When your business is not run as a delivery service, then it’s often at odds with the requirements of running an in-house delivery service.
Many drivers prefer a flexible schedule, may work part-time or have other requirements. Deliveries get changes, routes blocked due to roadworks, and a host of other problems crop up every day, which creates a logistical nightmare.
The delivery drivers might be a great bunch, but they’re a handful to keep in line.
4. Delivery Drivers May Feel Happier Working for a Delivery Company
Whereas a smaller company may go to the wall or decide to stop offering a delivery service, a home delivery service company isn’t that way.
As a result, delivery drivers are likely to feel safer working for a delivery company like Shift.Online because they serve lots of companies and deliver to many customers, which provides job security. Sustainable options such as final mile delivery service are just as appealing as they’re not going to suddenly shut down whereas an employer with an add-on delivery service with only three delivery drivers just might.
Hiring and managing delivery drivers is not as easy as it looks. The logistics of running a delivery-based operation is necessarily fast-paced and won’t suit every type of business. Sometimes, it’s best to outsource deliveries to a dedicated delivery company to remove the headache and get back to running your business.